SITREP THREAD. Post your Progress Here.

[AWP]

Hello everyone.

I recently tore my rotator cuff and was told by my recruiter that it will be very difficult to get enlisted. He told me that since the injury is shoulder related it could take up to a year to get waviers. I am 4 months into physical therapy, which is going very good. My PT said that I am way ahead schedule. Also, my sports medicine doctor said that I am doing great as well. They both said that since I didn't get surgery I could have some issues here and there. But, they also said that surgery was not required for my specific case. They made it seem as if I am doing well. In fact, I have no more scheduled appointments with my sports medicine doctor, as well as him clearing me to start doing very very light weights (no overhead or behind the neck stuff). I do have some pain from time-to-time, but not substantial.

All-in-all, my recruiter told me to keep coming to workouts every week and get in the best shape possible, and hope that MEPS clears me after the next fiscal year starts. Also, I am working with the Marine Corps right now to obtain an Intelligence contract or a Fire Direction and Control contract (DD and CK enlistment options). I was looking into MARSOC or CI/HUMINT after my initial enlistment. However, I am open to all branches if an opportunity pops up, or a door closes. If I can never join, I will most likely be pursuing FF/Paramedic, LEO, or something else of that nature. I hope it all works out in the end.

Be upfront and sort it out when you enlist. MARSOC will be there when you've healed and are ready. Whatever you do, be the best at it. If you never make it MARSOC (it happens to a lot of good dudes, you know?) you have to look at yourself and know you crushed whatever job the Corps gave you.

Good luck.

 

[NathanRSF]

Thank you, AWP. I will do my absolute best in whatever comes my way.

I look forward to see what the future holds.

 

[Salt USMC]

Hello everyone.

I recently tore my rotator cuff and was told by my recruiter that it will be very difficult to get enlisted. He told me that since the injury is shoulder related it could take up to a year to get waviers. I am 4 months into physical therapy, which is going very good. My PT said that I am way ahead schedule. Also, my sports medicine doctor said that I am doing great as well. They both said that since I didn't get surgery I could have some issues here and there. But, they also said that surgery was not required for my specific case. They made it seem as if I am doing well. In fact, I have no more scheduled appointments with my sports medicine doctor, as well as him clearing me to start doing very very light weights (no overhead or behind the neck stuff). I do have some pain from time-to-time, but not substantial.

All-in-all, my recruiter told me to keep coming to workouts every week and get in the best shape possible, and hope that MEPS clears me after the next fiscal year starts. Also, I am working with the Marine Corps right now to obtain an Intelligence contract or a Fire Direction and Control contract (DD and CK enlistment options). I was looking into MARSOC or CI/HUMINT after my initial enlistment. However, I am open to all branches if an opportunity pops up, or a door closes. If I can never join, I will most likely be pursuing FF/Paramedic, LEO, or something else of that nature. I hope it all works out in the end.

Hey man, this is a tough break and I feel for you. As someone who has absolutely destroyed their supraspinatus because they were a total idiot, my advice to you is to take it easy and DO YOUR REHAB! As your doctor has probably told you, the human shoulder is kind of designed in a pretty stupid way, and if you injure it through overwork then it can sideline you for a very long time (as you have no doubt already experienced). And if you're headstrong like I was and try to jump back into training before you're really healed, it will only exacerbate existing problems and prolong your injuries.

Good luck on your progress.

Edit: I also see that you're into powerlifting. It may pain you to do so, but look into getting a Sling Shot for benching. Yeah, it won't necessarily make you a stronger bencher, but after my injury it was really the only thing that even let me bench without chomping a bunch of motrin beforehand.

 

[MidasMouse]

Got med separated during OSUT and sent home from 3 bulging discs. So far so good recovering, but definitely sucked after crushing just about everything we did. Hopefully waiver down the road and re-enlist, just don't know what yet. Sorry for only shit news, fellas. Good luck to the rest of you, and stay safe!

 

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[DozerB]

This site has been a huge help to me in the past so I figured I'd update. Just finished A&S, got selected. The worst part of the whole process was the anticipation. If you're interested in it, give it a shot. Not everyone who gets selected is an iron man. Good luck to you all.

Edit/addition: side note; for those of you A&S bound shortly, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by the lack of drama. Reading forums, you read a lot about the whole mentality of "I'll die before I quit!" but that type of drama just doesn't really exist in real life. A lot of guys quit and just disappear throughout the weeks, and some are left over at the end. Very little drama; you either decide to keep going or you just kind of end up going home. So much less like the closing scenes of Surviving the Cut than one might expect...

But for real, thank you BTDTs for your ongoing advice on this site. I have and continue to learn so much from even the most mundane conversations on here.

 

[NathanRSF]

Hey man, this is a tough break and I feel for you. As someone who has absolutely destroyed their supraspinatus because they were a total idiot, my advice to you is to take it easy and DO YOUR REHAB! As your doctor has probably told you, the human shoulder is kind of designed in a pretty stupid way, and if you injure it through overwork then it can sideline you for a very long time (as you have no doubt already experienced). And if you're headstrong like I was and try to jump back into training before you're really healed, it will only exacerbate existing problems and prolong your injuries.

Good luck on your progress.

Edit: I also see that you're into powerlifting. It may pain you to do so, but look into getting a Sling Shot for benching. Yeah, it won't necessarily make you a stronger bencher, but after my injury it was really the only thing that even let me bench without chomping a bunch of motrin beforehand.

Thank you, Marine. Shoulder injuries are definitely a humbling experience. I jumped back into it way too quickly in the earlier parts of my injury. Thankfully, nothing significant happened. I now realize the importance of taking it slow with shoulder injuries. With most injuries you can skip around them a little bit without further injuring yourself ....thats not the case with shoulder injuries.

I've heard nothing but good things about the slingshot. I might have to make that purchase sooner than later. Thanks for the tip, Marine.

 

[jmik008]

How's everyone doing? I recently (Dec.) got picked up to retrain as a SSgt for TACP. I'll be heading to the schoolhouse in July for prep and then continuing on for the course. Currently doing 3 a days here and getting ready for the suck. Below are my numbers for current PAST standards/ruck times. I'm currently rucking once a week, every Saturday for 8 miles.

Run- 9:25
Pull- 26
Push- 75
Sit- 72

As far as rucking goes, I going with 50# in the ruck plus water. I haven't done an 8 mile ruck for time, however, my 4 mile time is currently right around 48 minutes.

 

[MidasMouse]

I am sorry to hear about your back. If it is of any help, The bulging disc, annular bulge, is just the first stage of disc space woes. The disc bulge is from overloading the intervertebral disc space. The disc pushes out against the ligaments that keep the vertebrae in alignment. Because the ligaments are part of the bone covering, periosteum, any displacement of the ligaments hurts like hell. The good news is that the discs are still intact, recovery is quite a bit easier.

One of the things that will help is to be "back smart". With good Physical Therapy, you can increase your core strength and learn of ways to protect your back.

Thank you for the kind words and advice! I started Physical Therapy as soon as I got back and some wrestling buddies with similar issues suggested neck traction which has been helping as well! I'm not waking up from stingers for about a week now, and things are looking better! Do you have any personal opinion on traction? Thank you again for the advice!
-Cody

 

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[The Dane]

I can send you something to help out.

You mind sending this to me as well.

 

[MidasMouse]

Traction is a way to reduce the load on the disc spaces, but it is only a temporary measure. It does give the disc a chance to return to it's normal position between the vertebra. Once the traction is released, things return to the pre-traction status, so you need to do something in addition to traction. The long-term fix is in building core strength. As you increase abdominal muscle tone, it is like putting on a back brace. The back braces that you can buy and wear do not help the back directly. The relief comes from added abdominal muscle support. The support makes you stand straighter and a little taller, which reduces the pressure on the intervertebral discs. If you can use the posture model of, "Ears over the shoulders, shoulders over the hips", that alone can reduce disc space loads. The proper posture alignment is just a part of the "Back Smart" way of protecting your back.

Right on, I'll keep all of this in mind and hit more core work! Ears over shoulders over hips will stick with me as well. The more help and information, the faster I can look at getting waived back in (fingers crossed). Thanks for all the information, bro. Truly appreciated!

 

[DZ]

It's been a while since I've posted an update. I just finished SUT, and will be heading to SERE shortly.

Good luck to anyone in the pipeline.

 

[Yosemite]

12 retraining slots just opened up for CCT last week. I just took my TAPAS test yesterday. All I have left to do is re-take the PAST and then my retraining package will be ready to submit. I got all of the other stuff done the past 6 months just waiting for these slots to open up; so it has paid off.

 

[amlove21]

12 retraining slots just opened up for CCT last week. I just took my TAPAS test yesterday. All I have left to do is re-take the PAST and then my retraining package will be ready to submit. I got all of the other stuff done the past 6 months just waiting for these slots to open up; so it has paid off.

Good to hear. Go PT and get some extra rucks in. Next step, Enlisted A&S. Keep up with the updates!

 

[Jay_Pew]

After a year and a half of being in this process, finally got a date for Combat Control Selection! Heading back to good old Lackland July 21st

 

[Mor13]

Good afternoon everyone,
Been awhile since I've been able to post any sort of update. I tore my pectineus in Dec and had to drop out of the April class for MARSOC A&S, and due to being a FY19 Marine I had to give my spot up in August for some guys who get out this year. Luckily I was able to get a spot in 18-1. Little rough doing it as a LCpl but I'm happy I still have the opportunity and look forward to seizing the extra time I have to prepare.
Current times-
PFT: 276 with 100 crunches, 20 PU, and 22:00 3 mile
CFT: 295
300M swim w/ Cammies: 8:50
5 1/2 mile ruck w/o rifle sub: 1hr 10min
My PFT was done in Oct and will be doing one with my squadron this week with the new standards. I can do the PU and crunches, only thing lacking will be my form on PU for the last 2-3 reps, been working on strict form since. For the ruck I walk for 3 min and do a slight shuffle for 1 min. Being only 5'8", I'm pleased with my time. I may add more jogging but id like to not have to by the time I get to selection. I am also only using a 30lb dry pack. I add distance every week (2.75miles a week) up to 11 miles and then add 10lbs a month until goal weight of 50lbs. With the extra time I've been given, I'm doing a strength routine (BBB by Jim Weldner) with added calisthenics until about 3 months out and then will be focusing on calisthenics and simply maintaining strength. Will be posting a 500m slick and an updated PFT soon.
Sorry for the lengthy update but its been an interesting last couple months. Have a good holiday everyone and stay safe.

 

[SESW]

It's been a while since I first posted my intro and started absorbing the wisdom you guys post on here. I got my HM contract back in Nov and I recently had my 30 day face to face with our DEP chief. I've been running, rucking and PTing my ass off but I know there's still room to improve. On the plus side my best friend just came home from deployment and brought me a coin from the USS Porter for my birthday. I'm looking forward to crushing boot and A school. Hoping to get a shot at SARC while I'm there so I can go out and test my mettle. Thanks again to all of you for imparting wisdom.

 

[EasyDay]

Nothing Big but here is some progression:
Got my ASVAB scores back, I qualify for SO. I had to study and actually try for the ASVAB so I am very happy I met the requirements.
The road for me is going to be longer than usual but I talked with the Navy Recruiter and I will be taking the PST and signing the contract in September.

Focusing on finishing High School and PT at the moment.

 

[Zedu1]

Hello all, I took my 2nd PAST for TACP today and scored a little better than the 1st time. Still a lot of room for improvement, but these are my results:

1.5mile/10:00
Pullups/19
Situps/70
Pushups/69

I am prior service Marine waiting for a slot to open up. Recruiter said the slots can open up randomly so I'll just continue to train. I hope I'll be ready by the time I get a spot.